This Week on the Dining Table

The  "Graduation is Over and It's Time To Get Back to Normal" Edition.......
 

 

 

 

Here is what was planned the last couple of weeks--


1.  Sloppy Joes, Rolls, Veggie
2.  Taco Salad
3.  Barbecue Chicken, Potato Salad
4.  Beef Stroganoff, Rice, Veggie
5.  Chicken Parmesan, Salad, Pasta or Bread
6.  Chicken and Mushroom Risotto, Veggie
7.  Broiled Salmon, Veggie, Coleslaw
8.  French Bread Pizza, Salad
9.  Ginger Garlic Shrimp Stir-fry(leftover)
10.  Breakfast for Dinner
11.  Scallops and Shrimp en Croute, Veggie
12.  Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Coleslaw or Veggie
13.  Hot Sausage and Spaghetti, Veggie
14.  London Broil, Fettuccine w/Sauce, Sugar Snap Peas
15.  Pizza, Salad

And here is what happened the last 15 days--


1.  Sloppy Joes, Rolls, Veggie
2.  Taco Salad
3.  Barbecue Chicken, Potato Salad
4.  Leftovers
5.  Chicken Parmesan, Salad, Pasta or Bread
6.  Leftovers
7.  Ginger Garlic Shrimp Stir-fry(leftover)
8.  French Bread Pizza, Salad
9.  Breakfast for Dinner
10.  Italian Sausage Sandwiches, Green Beans
11.  Beef Stroganoff, Mushroom Risotto, Broccoli
12.  Chinese out
13.  Pizza, Salad
14.  Party foods, fruit, raw veggies and dip, BBQ sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, spare ribs, beans, deviled eggs, macaroni salad, cake, brownies, ice cream
15.  Leftover Chinese food or Beef Stroganoff

The hot Sausage & Spaghetti, Scallops & Shrimp en croute, the London Broil & Fettuccine, and Broiled Salmon didn't happen yet, so those go onto the next 15 days of menus.

As for the food spending update......I have spent $220.73 on $336.55 worth of groceries in June so far.  This counts all the party food(including the cake)and except whatever Hubs spent on 2 bags of ice for the coolers, since he didn't give me the receipt yet. 8-P

Considering all the party spending I did(we fed 12 people that day) and the extra eaters for dinners last week, I am still on track for a $400 grocery budget month here.
This thrills me!
Yes, I am easily amused.......
 

 

Here is my list of meals for the second half of June.----

16.  Broiled Salmon, Veggie, Cole Slaw(leftover)
17.  Leftover Beef Stroganoff & Mushroom Risotto, Roasted Cauliflower
18.  Hot Italian Sausage and Spaghetti, Salad
19.  Leftover Burgers and other leftover party foods
20.  French Bread Pizza, Salad
21.  Scallops and Shrimp en Croute, Veggie
22.  Pork Chops, Sautéed Cabbage, Macaroni Salad(leftover)
23.  BLT Sandwiches or Cheesesteaks-Diner's Choice
24.  Battered Fish Portions, leftover party food side dishes
25.  Pulled Pork Sandwiches(leftover), Coleslaw or Veggie
26.  Dinner out with #1Son
27.  Lasagna, Salad
28.  Burritos, Salad
29.  London Broil, Fettuccine w/Sauce, Sugar Snap Peas
30.  Wild Card meal-not planned

We also have enough fresh fruit and dessert items to last the rest of this week and I'll pick up some more fresh fruit next week to finish off June.
 

What I need to purchase for these meals?....... salad greens and fresh fruits for the 3rd week of June meals, pastry shells, and milk.  I have everything else here already either in the pantry, fridge or freezer.
The leftover barbecue I smoked will be put into the freezer and taken out when #1 Son comes to visit, as he requested that to eat and I don't want to have to spend an entire day smoking meat again this month.
I could also do chili if #1 Son wants that during his stay without having to buy anything.

If I can stick to this set of meals it should go a long way in clearing out our freezer, except for the chicken breasts I stocked up on earlier this month.

I want to stay at $80 or less in groceries for the rest of June.
That would give me a $300 food spending month.
With a $500+ month in May, keeping it $300 or less would be grand.

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?
Do you make a menu and how flexible is your plan?

 

Sluggy

3 And Done!

Friday was the date.
Who are these people and why are they sitting lined up in the arena?

 

 

 
This is the graduating class of our local high school on their graduation ceremony night.

And here they come, processing into the arena.  #2 Son is the first one through the 2014 Banner in red......





Sitting and listening to someone or other drone on in this shot.  #2Son is in the band section, facing the camera, in the center front in red.  I was sitting on the oppose side of the arena, way up in the handicapped area since I don't do stairs well,, so this is the best close-up I could get.

And here is #2 Son receiving his diploma.......you can hear his Aunt and Uncle yelling after they call his name....yah, we are those people......
And mom is fussing that his stole is falling off.
I am always the mom I guess. lolz



And finally the graduates throw their mortarboards.  #2 Son is sort of in the middle in the band section(facing the camera) in glasses and he shakes his head a few times after de-hatting himself. lolz

 

And here is the happy graduate......

With his moms.....

With his dad......

With my side of the family.....

With Hub's side of the family......

With his friends who came to see him graduate.....

And what graduation photo session isn't complete without someone making bunny ears behind you?.....

But he's cool with that, especially later when they gave him presents.....

Congratulations son!

3 kids out of high school.
Stick a fork in me, I am done!!! 8-)

Sluggy

The Boy Who Lives Music

Last night was the Awards Night ceremony for #2 Son's graduating high school class.
We went and were proud to see our son win a musical award, the Band Director's Award.

**This clip is of 4 awards given out by the music department.  #2 Son is the first one so you don't have to watch the whole clip if you don't want to.  Unfortunately I don't know how to edit film yet. ;-)



And here are #2 and Hubs posing for a photo after the ceremony was over.

#2 Son has a passion for music. It all began in 6th grade when he decided he wanted to play the flute in his grade school band.  Both his older siblings had played trumpet but no amount of coaxing could get him to not want to play that "girl's instrument". lolz

He picked up playing electric bass in 8th grade after saving up money to buy himself a bass at the local guitar/instrument store.
Along the way he also learned to play the double bass or contrabass and is teaching himself the clarinet because a friend gave him an old one they had.

 He has participated in musical bands at school(plus taking private lessons)since middle school-- marching band 6 years(I think), concert band for 5 years, jazz band for 4 years(on the electric bass), played in the pit orchestra for every musical since high school, did a stint in the string ensemble band(on the double bass), as well as formed a "garage band" outside of school and is cutting a cd of songs with them in hopes of one day finding paying gigs. 
He's gone to Districts competition for flute the last 2 years, performed in Marching Band competitions(placing 1st for the State Regionals in PA once) and performed at Jazz competitions on the electric bass the last 3 years, winning a Solo Performance award at Bloomsburg University this year.

He participated in track as a freshman but gave that up after one season as his heart wasn't in it.
His heart is in music and he hopes to make a career in the music world.

#2 Son is pretty much an introvert and has few friends and has had a hard time finding his way as a teenager.  He wasn't a jock or one of the popular, cool or ultra brainy kids in school.  Being in band he was looked down upon by his fellow classmates as a band geek.
He had a hard time at points fitting into the teenage hierarchy and pecking order in high school.  I think his music helped him cope with what at times seemed to be a miserable time as a teen.
When I think of #2 Son I can't help to be reminded of that Thoreau quote......

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."--Henry David Thoreau

#2 Son truly lives for music and he wants to try to make it his life.
It's a hard life for most who pursue music as a vocation.  But it's what he wants to do so we are 100% behind him and gave him the freedom to take all that money we saved for his college education to major in music.  It's not a popular choice and had my brothers told my father they wanted to pursue a degree in the arts he would have had a cow and then not paid a penny toward their dreams.

It may not be the prudent choice......the concentration that will guarantee the highly paid career for his future, heck he'll probably have trouble paying his monthly bills as those in this profession are not well compensated for their work(unless you are one of the elite few).
But money isn't everything so why spend your life doing something you hate just for the money?
He eats, sleeps and breathes music.
Thankfully his parents are fully supportive of his goals and dreams and always have been, no matter what they turn out to be.

I am so happy to see his love for music being recognized by those at his school.
And needless to say I am proud of him.

And I keep reminding him that if he ever makes it big with his garage band that he needs to remember who has always been in his corner and yes, I'd like that convertible custom purple Rolls Royce for my birthday. 8-)))

Sluggy

Can You Help a Band Out?

When the Warped Tour comes to our area this Summer they are holding a Battle of the Bands competition for local bands.
#2 Son is trying to scare up votes for his group, The Docile Sponge.

Please if you are inclined to do that sort of thing, go to this page HERE and vote for his band.
If they get enough votes they will earn the right to perform in the competition and get some more exposure in the local band scene.

You can vote as many times as you want too.

I & #2 Son thank you in advance for your support.

Sluggy

 

It's the Chair for Me and My "Green" Weekend with a Big Gun

 

I was one busy beaver last weekend.

It all started on Friday when I got rid of the Christmas tablecloth on the kitchen table......about time, right? lolz

I sewed up a spiffy new summery tablecloth.....

And put it under vinyl.......

Then I took one of the nasty and stained seats off of the chairs......

And recovered it in matching fabric with vinyl covering, then reattached the seat to the chair.

By Saturday evening I had done 4 of the chairs and this project was completed!

Looks a lot better, don't it?

I have 2 extra chairs but their seats aren't in bad shape and I don't use them in the kitchen with the other ones.  I may go ahead and purchase another 3/4 yard of fabric so I can cover those chair cushions/seats eventually.  I can always use that fabric to make throw pillows for the living room if I don't end up recovering those seats/cushions before the other 4 get beat to hell.   But I'll wait until the fabric goes on sale again.  8-)

Also on Saturday I went and picked up the last of the soda for the party.  I had a $5 off $25 coupon for Dollar General(the sad store)so we are stocked up on sugary carbonated drinks for the crew.

Then we rented a power washer and de-molded (or as Jane would say de-moulded)the siding on the house and cleaned the French doors, window screens and the deck.
I also emptied the pool deck box and then scrubbed it good with a bleachy cleaner and now it almost looks presentable. lolz

Here's my best Bonnie & Clyde type pose with my big gun.....hehehe

And here is the backside of the house now that it's nice and pretty.....

I had Hubs also pick up 2 lime green Adirondack at Lowe's when he went out on Saturday.
Yah, an impulse buy for $36. 

Now we don't have to drag out the canvas camp every time we want to make a fire.  We can leave these out in the elements and the canvas chairs can be extras for when we have company.

Then on Sunday morning I got an email from Overstock that the lime green leather club chair I wanted to buy(which was out of stock for months)was available again, so I hopped right on that and bought it.
I'll cross my fingers that it arrives before the graduation on Friday.  If not, that's ok too.

Sunday I worked on the living room curtains when I wasn't trying to clean the house and move junk around and clear off the bed in my "fabric lair".

We also got 2 boxes of stuff in the car for Salvation Army ready to go the next time we are over there.

By the time everyone leaves on Sunday I will need a week in bed!

So between mold(or mould for my Canadian friends) and assorted chairs, I have a very green weekend, didn't I?  8-)))

Let's close with a shot of my peonies as they finally decided to bloom this weekend.....

So what have you been up to lately?



Sluggy